Advice on landing lights?

Rob Turk wrote:
"Harvey Spencer" wrote in message
news:%0%xf.6967$CV.2345@dukeread03...

I know that the XV-36 light offered by XeVision at
http://www.aerovisions.com/pic/XV-36-SL-new.jpg will meet the FAA
requirements for brightness and light pattern. It uses the D1S bulb xenon
arc bulb which is better than the D2S commonly used in automobiles since it
has the starting ballast integrated into the base of the bulb.

[SNIP]

These lights are not cheap, about $550 through places like Aircraft Spruce,
but you get what you pay for. I think I saw a xenon arc light offered by
Chief Aircraft for about $350 but found out that the lens and reflector is
plastic.


Thanks for all the details, Harvey. I had looked at XeVision but found the
price kinda steep. The Hella ones sell for about $350 each and are a bit
smaller. Unfortunately they are usually offered in pairs ($699) for car
owners.

Rob


How about something like

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=391

There are landing light kits for homebuilts already available using this
style bulb. Various angles of coverage available, if you do a little
looking.

It doesn't run cold like the xenon bulbs & it does have a filament, but
the .01X cost factor would have a strong influence on my decision.....

Charlie

"Charlie" wrote How about something like

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=391

There are landing light kits for homebuilts already available using this
style bulb. Various angles of coverage available, if you do a little
looking.

I wouldn't want to use something like that, for a landing light.
Recognition light, perhaps the 75 watt would be OK.

The bulbs you cite are used in low voltage landscaping applications. Real
landing lights are 250 watts, up to 600 watts, and some, more.

The beauty about the HID lights are multi-fold. No vibration breakage, so a
very long life. Low heat output. Low current draw, for the amount of light
produced. The output light frequency is such that objects appear much
brighter, and whiter; more like real daylight.

Unfortunately, they cost more. Your investment pays off in peace of mind,
that the light will work when you turn it on, and that you can better see
what you are trying to look at. :Less (or almost no) maintenance is always
a "good thing" in my book.
--
Jim in NC

Morgans wrote:

"Charlie" wrote How about something like


http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=391

There are landing light kits for homebuilts already available using
this style bulb. Various angles of coverage available, if you do a
little looking.


I wouldn't want to use something like that, for a landing light.
Recognition light, perhaps the 75 watt would be OK.

The bulbs you cite are used in low voltage landscaping applications.
Real landing lights are 250 watts, up to 600 watts, and some, more.

The beauty about the HID lights are multi-fold. No vibration breakage,
so a very long life. Low heat output. Low current draw, for the amount
of light produced. The output light frequency is such that objects
appear much brighter, and whiter; more like real daylight.

Unfortunately, they cost more. Your investment pays off in peace of
mind, that the light will work when you turn it on, and that you can
better see what you are trying to look at. :Less (or almost no)
maintenance is always a "good thing" in my book.

I'm sure that airliners use 600W+ lamps, but we aren't building
airliners. Real normal *traditional incandescant* landing lights are 250
watts. Sometimes. Halogens are typically twice as efficient as
traditional incandescents. If the only criteria is wattage, why suggest
using 35W HID lamps?

The bulbs cited are used in uncountable applications, including landing
lights.

'You pay your money, & you make your choice.'

The wattage listed in only an indicator of the current used. HID doesn't
use much current but the light output is awesome.


"Morgans" wrote in message
news

"Charlie" wrote How about something like

http://www.1000bulbs.com/category.php?category=391

There are landing light kits for homebuilts already available using this
style bulb. Various angles of coverage available, if you do a little
looking.

I wouldn't want to use something like that, for a landing light.
Recognition light, perhaps the 75 watt would be OK.

The bulbs you cite are used in low voltage landscaping applications. Real
landing lights are 250 watts, up to 600 watts, and some, more.

The beauty about the HID lights are multi-fold. No vibration breakage, so
a very long life. Low heat output. Low current draw, for the amount of
light produced. The output light frequency is such that objects appear
much brighter, and whiter; more like real daylight.

Unfortunately, they cost more. Your investment pays off in peace of mind,
that the light will work when you turn it on, and that you can better see
what you are trying to look at. :Less (or almost no) maintenance is
always a "good thing" in my book.
--
Jim in NC

On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 17:15:29 +0100, "Rob Turk"
wrote:

We're looking at installing landing lights on our Rans S6S. The ones offered
by Aircraft Spruce are a bit big, about 5" diameter. I'm trying to find
something a bit smaller but equally effective. Does anyone here know what
(if any) requirements a landing light has, such as beam angle, width,
brightness etc??

What are those White, or blue white lights that are showing up in cars
now. Although they claim no glare, for older eyes the things are
worse than meeting regular lights on bright. I'd think they'd make an
excellent landing light in the proper housing.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

The Hella Micro DE Xenon looks like a really interesting option. Less than
3" diameter, low power (35W) but very high light output and resilient to
vibration. See:
http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hell...o_DE_Xenon.jsp

Anyone used this? Good or bad? Any alternatives that are equally small and
effective?

Thanks!
Rob

Rob Turk wrote:
We're looking at installing landing lights on our Rans S6S. The ones offered
by Aircraft Spruce are a bit big, about 5" diameter. I'm trying to find
something a bit smaller but equally effective. Does anyone here know what
(if any) requirements a landing light has, such as beam angle, width,
brightness etc??

The Hella Micro DE Xenon looks like a really interesting option. Less than
3" diameter, low power (35W) but very high light output and resilient to
vibration. See:
http://www.hella.com/produktion/Hell...o_DE_Xenon.jsp

Anyone used this? Good or bad? Any alternatives that are equally small and
effective?

Thanks!
Rob



I got some Halogen driving lights from NAPA. They should work fine. I
used a 50W Halogen light on my Piper and it was quite sufficient for
landing. It provided about the same light as the 100w 4506 legal one.
(notice I said sufficient .. not "legal". ;-) )

"Rob Turk" wrote in message
news:AmQxf.3664$zc1.3603@amstwist00...
We're looking at installing landing lights on our Rans S6S. The ones
offered by Aircraft Spruce are a bit big, about 5" diameter. I'm trying to
find something a bit smaller but equally effective. Does anyone here know
what (if any) requirements a landing light has, such as beam angle, width,
brightness etc??


Thanks everyone for the hints, tips and advice. We went ahead and ordered
the Hella Micro DE Xenon, will let the group know how it works out.

Rob